jmbmotorsport.com Reviews 2

Like other reviews i have had an awful experience. I note dealing with JMB was initially a pleasant experience, however reality has dawned.
The car sold was not prepared as described. Sun roof leaked, engine was overheating and there as an issue with the brake booster ( related to ABS ) system I understand,
I have written evidence that corrective works were allegedly undertaken and they were not.
When returned for repair, and in JMB possession, I spotted the car being driven locally - turned out to be JMB owners family test driving the car. Always seemed strange that when the brake booster in the car was faulty way you would have your wife and children driving it.
Have had several written promises that my money would be returned in full plus interest - like other reviews there was always a reason it wasn’t: losses here; restructuring the business there; investment awaited; my lack of knowledge how the car business works.
Allegedly someone else bought the car but returned it, Funny that; I never had anything from dvla to note or confirm a transaction -then that person returned the car due to issues. How that transaction happened us beyond me
Still very sad as we appeared to get on well and I now will be instructing lawyers. This has gone on for almost 18 months, I can confirm that plenty of other cars have been in the/showroom as I drive past it every day - so there is clearly money there.
Transaction was August 2024 and money still not returned Nov 2025

In late February 2025 I saw an advert for a Rover Mini Cooper Sport 500 in Tahiti Blue on JMB's website. This was one of the last 500 classic Mini's made, in the colour I wanted.
I had a motorcycle to exchange, plus cash to make up the £18,400 asking price.
The garage were willing to lorry the car from St Albans to my home in Cheshire. If having driven it I did not want it, they would lorry it back to St Albans and return the full asking price, which the proprietor and contact Jonathan Burden wanted transferring to his bank in advance. I could not take delivery of the car for some time because the motorbike was being serviced and having a recurrent fault diagnosed and fixed. I did not want to hand over a vehicle that I knew had an issue.
First red flag. Mr Burden wanted all the funds transferred immediately. even though the date of purchase had not been agreed. I would not transfer the whole amount, but transferred a 10% deposit.
2nd red flag. I received a call from Mr Burden stating that someone was coming to view the car, but if I transferred the full funds immediately, the car was mine and he would take it off the market. I responded as I had done previously, please keep it for sale until my motorcycle was repaired, if he sold the Mini, please just return my deposit.
3rd red flag. Looking at the MOT history over several recent years there were warnings about severe corrosion in the sub frame. Surprisingly this year it was given a clean bill of health.
4th red flag, Looking at the online photos of the car I could not see the specific features that made it a Sport 500, as opposed to just a Sport. This is significant as it affects the value. I phoned Mr Burden who assured me it was a Sport 500.
5th red flag. I looked at the report and accounts online of JMB Motorsport, and its creditors far exceeded its debtors.
I finally got the motorcycle back and we agreed a delivery date of about 2 1/2 weeks ahead (late April). Mr Burden was very keen that I should transfer the funds immediately. I said I would transfer them about 3 days before delivery.
The day came and the car arrived. I took it for a test drive and decided to keep it. I was still concerned that I could not see evidence, either on the car itself or in the paperwork, that it was a Sport 500. The delivery drivers left and I phoned Mr Burden. He finally conceded at it was not a Sport 500, but it was one of the last 1,000. This has no significance whatsoever! Rover built 3,000 of this model and it is only the last 500 that are different.
I considered this over the weekend and phoned Mr Burden the following Monday. He acknowledged his mistake and promised to refund part of the proceeds when he had sold the bike.
6th red flag. He was supposed to arrange for the V5 to be sent to DVLC. Despite chasing it twice it was never forthcoming, in the end I had to arrange it myself
I decided to take the car to a classic Mini specialist. For £250 they will write a comprehensive assessment. I was not expecting the car to be perfect, it is 25 years old. Of the many faults the most concerning was the rotten subframe. The expert informed me that it had never been off the car, which is highly unusual for a 25 year old Mini, and it would need replacing to get through an MOT. The question then is how did it get through the last MOT.
The car came with a 3 month warranty and I have written and emailed Jonathan Burden, and had absolutely no response.
7th red flag. He has resigned as a director of JMB Motorsport, to be replaced by, who I assume to be his wife.
If anyone bothers to read this they may come to the conclusion caveat emptor, and they would be correct. There were so many red flags, and I stupidly got caught up in the euphoria of wanting the classic Mini. I got my first car (a Mini) in 1980, and this has been by far the worst car buying experience I have had. Please be very careful if you are dealing with this company.
PS The bike disappeared from his website after about a month, but, surprise surprise, I did not receive any of the proceeds.